NanoViricides, a developer of specialty nanomaterials for use in viral therapy, has reported the study results of oral administration of its FluCide anti-influenza drug candidates in a fatal influenza infection animal model.

KARD Scientific performed the study in the animal model. According to the results, FluCide anti-influenza drug candidates demonstrated clinically significant disease protection against the lethal influenza infection and were better than oral oseltamivir (Tamiflu, Roche), a present standard for influenza treatment, based on all parameters assessed.

On comparison with oral oseltamivir, the oral administration of two varieties of FluCide drug candidates decreased the influenza virus level considerably in the lungs of the infected mice and also provided meaningful protection against the lung tissue inflammation and damage, which is considered to be significant in the fatal pathogenesis in this animal model of fatal H1N1 Influenza virus infection. Based on these results, the FluCide drug candidates clearly demonstrated a substantial increase in survival rate when compared to oral oseltamivir.

NanoViricides anticipates that an oral nanoviricide drug utilized either alone or along with other viricides in humans suffering from seasonal influenza is able to decrease the count of fatal illness cases and associated death. It also expects that such a treatment will have better efficacy when compared to the present benchmark of care drugs for the flu.

According to WHO, the emergence of influenza A viruses will pose a major risk to public health due to lack of immunity against them. Such viruses are capable of spreading rapidly, causing a pandemic. NanoViricides hopes that an oral nanoviricide drug holds potential to treat such seasonal and pandemic influenza.